Tug of war was introduced as a World Games sport at the first World Games in 1981 World Games in Santa Clara. It has been played at all editions since then.[1] Two teams, in a test of strength, pull on opposite ends of a rope. The goal is to bring the rope a certain distance in one direction against the force of the opposing team’s pull. Two teams of eight, whose total mass must not exceed a class maximum weight, align themselves at opposite ends of the rope. The teams start with the rope’s center-line directly above a line marked on the ground, and once the contest has commenced, attempt to pull the other team such that the marking on the rope closest to their opponent crosses the center-line.[2]
| 1981 Santa Clara | ||||
| 1985 London | ||||
| 1989 Karlsruhe | ||||
| 1993 The Hague | ||||
| 1997 Lahti | ||||
| 2005 Duisburg | ||||
| 2009 Kaohsiung | ||||
| 2013 Cali | ||||
| 2017 Wrocław | ||||
| 2022 Birmingham |
| 2001 Akita | ||||
| 2005 Duisburg | ||||
| 2009 Kaohsiung |
| 2013 Cali | ||||
| 2017 Wrocław |
This is a discontinued event.
| 1981 Santa Clara | ||||
| 1985 London | ||||
| 1989 Karlsruhe | ||||
| 1993 The Hague | ||||
| 1997 Lahti |
This is a discontinued event.
| 2001 Akita |
| 2005 Duisburg | ||||
| 2009 Kaohsiung |
| 2013 Cali | ||||
| 2017 Wrocław |